Gene Expression of Stress Proteins and Identification of Molecular Markers of Plant Resistance to High Temperatures and Drought

• Main Author: L.P. Khokhlova
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kazan Federal University 2016-06-01
• Series: Učënye Zapiski Kazanskogo Universiteta. Seriâ Estestvennye Nauki
• Subjects: Triticum aestivum; various cultivars (genotypes); hyperthermia; water deficit; stress proteins; gene expression
• Online Access: http://kpfu.ru/portal/docs/F1870066515/158_2_est_5.pdf

Molecular biomarkers of plant resistance to both individual and combined action of high tempera-tures (42 °C) and drought have been identified. For this purpose, correlation between gene expression of four stress proteins (non-photosynthetic malic enzyme (TaNADP-ME2), serine-threonine kinase (W55a), dehydrin (DHN14), and lipocalin (TaTIL)) and resistance of eight spring wheat cultivars has been determined for the first time. Gene expression has been studied using the RT-PCR method based on the content of transcripts on electrophoregrams. The absence of species-specific responses of two genes, TaNADP-ME2 and W55a, the gene activity of which did not depend on the resistance of cultivars to heat shock and water deficit, has been shown. However, gene expression of two other genes, DHN14 and TaTIL, was genotypically determined and positively correlated with the high resistance of particular cultivars. It has been concluded that the activities of DHN14 and TaTIL are potential molecular markers of heat and drought resistance in spring wheat and, therefore, can be used in transgenic selection technologies to create new phenotypes of agricultural crops that would be better adapted to the environmental conditions.